Eliminate thermal power plants and transform them into energy storage stations

Can thermal storage power plants achieve 100 % renewable power supply?

The paper at hand presents a new approach to achieve 100 % renewable power supply introducing Thermal Storage Power Plants (TSPP) that integrate firm power capacity from biofuels with variable renewable electricity converted to flexible power via integrated thermal energy storage.

How can thermal storage power plants reduce the residual load gap?

The following key measures were introduced for its realization: 1. Introducing Thermal Storage Power Plants (TSPP) with about one third annual photovoltaic electricity share will reduce the need of renewable fuels for firm and flexible power generation to close the residual load gap.

Why is bioenergy used in thermal storage power plants?

Bioenergy is used as primary fuel for Thermal Storage Power Plants in order to guarantee firm power capacity at any time just on demand in order to close the residual load gaps of the power sector. PV and energy storage integrated to TSPP save as much biofuel as possible in order to reduce the pressure on the limited available bioenergy resources.

Can thermal power plants bridge long supply gaps?

In contrast to that, thermal power plants using hydrogen as fuel can indeed bridge long supply gaps [22, 23], but another dilemma arises here: hydrogen is not a primary energy source but a secondary energy carrier produced from electricity .

How can TSPP transition to 100% renewable electricity?

TSPP use solar- and bioenergy and grid surplus as primary energy sources for dispatchable power generation. Dispatchable renewable electricity is the key for energy transition also in industry, heat and transport. A model scenario for Germany with TSPP shows how transition to 100% renewable electricity can be achieved until 2040.

What are the characteristics of thermal storage power plants?

They must be energy efficient and cost-effective in spite of low annual utilization rates (equivalent full load hours). Thermal Storage Power Plants comply with the abovementioned characteristics, are based on state-of-the-art technology and are on the verge of being realized in first-of-a-kind pilot plants .